It's between the crest and the crash

I write about songs a lot, about dancing to the music - even if it's just in your head. I write about jumping off that building or sliding down the slope; today I am writing about the silence.

Today, my friends went off to the store in town as I stayed behind to sort things - okay book all the tours - and then went down to the beach.  As I stood in the waves, feet sinking in, water splashing me, I just closed my eyes and took in the silence.  There is a moment between when a wave crests and when it crashes down where the world goes still and it is just quiet. In that moment, the world stands still.  Yesterday,  I moved my feet around so in wouldn't sink in, I kept my eyes open in case a big wave came in with the potential to knock me down; today, I put my arms over my head, closed my eyes and waited to feel the water. Sometimes,  it never reached me and other times it came up to my waist.  I didn't worry about being knocked over.  I didn't worry about getting my hiking clothes (from the mini hike we did before breakfast) wet. I didn't worry about my feet sinking further into the black sand.  I just stood, with my eyes closed and arms overhead taking in my silence.

This week is about time with new and old friends, adventures and exploration of a new land. Friends, adventures, the rain forest and beach are the wave crashes.  Standing the waves, walking on the hike or sitting on the patio,  the wave crests and the silence in between those? It's between the crest and the crash that you find the real joy - in the silence in between you realize how great the crest and the crash really are.

A song to start the trip

I've seen trees of green,
Raccoons too,
I've seen the crabs, heading towards me and you...
And I sing to myself,
What a wonderful world.

Keep your eyes open for the dance...

Tonight I sit high above runways watching a dance as I haven't seen it before.  Have I watched planes land and takeoff before? Yes, many times from many different airport lounges in many different countries but I have never just sat, with no where to go, watching them.

If you haven't seen it, it is like the most complicated of choreographed dances yet appears blissfully simple.  As a SW plane lands, a United plane takes off.  As a jumbo KLA jet takes off, a small regional jet lands.  Simple beauty surrounded by the noise of one the world's busiest airports.

My current situation is similar, I am watching the runways of LAX sitting on the 18th floor of a Marriott (a hotel that always feels a bit like home) surrounded by people laughing and talking, almost too loud atmosphere music and yet I sense a choreographed dance, people come and go - planes take off and land.

This week, my family started a new adventure and tomorrow I go on another personal one.  I am off to give the brain and soul a break and become one with nature...okay, I am going to see monkeys but animals reset me. As does flying around hanging by a string.   I am lucky as my family supports my need for downtime and while I am sure they find it silly, they say go and have fun. However, at this moment, I can't help but think how great it is to see the dance of LAX and work through in my head how I can get my boys here some day to see the dance too.

Moral? Keep your eyes open for the dance, it might not jump out at you but trust me - it's there.

Dance in the rain or Dance in the sunshine - just Embrace the day!

A friend posted about embracing today and your loved ones as you never know what tomorrow brings. I will not directly steal her post but I will second the notion - everyday is a new day and a chance to have amazing adventures! Some are great, some try you to the core. Hold onto the love, the new opportunities, each other and remember; no one puts 'They were a great employee' on their tombstone.
I have a lot of fun in life, a lot of which I share with you - Facebook It - but not everyday is full of fun. Most days are windowless rooms named for cities where I would rather be, marathon conference calls that make you yearn for a training run in 100 degree heat or loud music drowning out the yelling I am doing at yet another repeat email. However, those fun times with my family, with friends, small town life, or just dancing in the rain alone are the ones that need to be embraced. Gray skies - metaphorical and actual - clear up, and the next adventure awaits.
Embrace today - Embrace your loved ones - Embrace the chance to dance in the rain or dance in the sun. In other words - Embrace Life and every moment that it brings!

Rain or shine - dance and embrace the moment!